Sandy Hook

Friday, May 21, 2010

Factcheck: Does Immigration Cost Jobs?

May 13, 2010

Summary

Do immigrants take American jobs? It’s a common refrain among those who want to tighten limits on legal immigration and deny a "path to citizenship" — which they call "amnesty" — to the millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. There’s even a new Reclaim American Jobs Caucus in the House, with at least 41 members.

But most economists and other experts say there’s little to support the claim. Study after study has shown that immigrants grow the economy, expanding demand for goods and services that the foreign-born workers and their families consume, and thereby creating jobs. There is even broad agreement among economists that while immigrants may push down wages for some, the overall effect is to increase average wages for American-born workers.

7 comments:

Immigrants taking American jobs is the greatest myth when it comes to immigration reform. American citizens do not take the jobs that Hispanics are willing to take. Americans think they are too good for them, or they can not do the physical labor that the job requires.

IMO here is what will now happen. Dmes and repubs alike are calling for soldiers on the border. Dems are even calling for a national ID card.Once they can proclaim that the border is being sealed. Then the humane and just process of the illegals coming out of the shadows will begin. They will be better for it, and our country will be better for it.

Oh and for the vigilantes. I have news for you. They just want to work, and have a better life for their children. The same as you. For the Xtians. Hispanics go to church more often than Anglos. For the repubs. If you get on the immigration reform wagon, some hispanics will vote republican. They do not like the dems stance on abortion. Hispanics will be a major voting block in the next 10-20 years. The repubs recognize this. America needs a new tax base. Immigrants will help fill that void.

Oh, and guess what. They actually save money, and will be able to buy a house. And other goods that we produce and sell.

Show me this American that won't take a job that only Hispanics are willing to take RZ. I'll tell him he's an asshole and moron.

If you're talking about jobs that pay substandard wages with no benefits, basically, slave labor so greasy employers can get out of Social Security, workman's comp and other costs, then I'll give that to you.

I do support immigration. I have no problem with anyone wanting a better life. But for an accident of birth I was fortunate enough to be born here. My major problem is with scum who exploit those who seek a better life.

In today's economy there is no such thing as a standard wage. All starting wages have been reduced because the employer knows there are x amount of people waiting in line for the same job. America is actually running out of people that will do menial jobs. More immigrants will be needed to fill that void. It is a simple matter of math, and demographics. Illegals with fake soc. sec. cards are paying into the system that they will never see. Today's Americans will never work in the fields. Either out of pride, or the physical stamina that is needed. Even if you paid them $15.00 an hour. When we came to America in the 50's, my mother was a maid at a hotel. Most if not all maids were European at that time. Now they are Latin, or African. Who cleans the airports? Here in Phoenix most of them are from N/E Africa. Guess they got political asylum?

Thanks, tn. Excellent post. Reminds of an "anecdote" on the radio I heard a couple of weeks ago. A caller called in to either Hannity or Levin and pointed out what happened when his town had a successful "get rid of the immigrants" effort. Once the immigrants were gone, the unemployment rate in the town went UP. The host did not like hearing this information.

Thanks for putting this up, Leslie. An important study for ALL who still believe those !$%&*! immigrants are stealing THEIR jobs. Like they would really clean motel rooms and pick strawberries for a living.

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